Here are the latest news and big news stories to follow - The Hindu

• President Donald Trump announced on Thursday from the Oval Office that he has called off planned military strikes against Iran. • The decision follows a period of escalating tensions and previous threats by the U.S. to increase military action.

• Former Twitter employee Ahmad Abouammo was paid $300,000 by a Saudi official in exchange for confidential data on dissident users while working in San Francisco. • In a separate legal matter, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the case of Hain Celestial Group, Inc. v. Palmquist on February 24, 2026.

• Section 702 of FISA expires tonight, but a secret FISC certification ensures that NSA and FBI warrantless surveillance remains operational through March 2027. • The extension persists despite a 47-52 Senate vote and a House rejection, effectively bypassing legislative attempts to curb the program.

• A vacancy in the Upper House has occurred following the resignation of AIADMK leader C.Ve. Shanmugam on May 7. • Shanmugam stepped down after winning the election to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly representing the Mailam constituency in Villupuram district.

• New national surveys indicate that majorities of both Republicans and Democrats agree on 112 key policy issues, contrasting the deep division seen in Congress. • A significant 82% of respondents support overturning the Citizens United ruling via a new Constitutional amendment to restrict corporate and PAC spending in elections.

• France, Germany, and other EU member states are discussing a comprehensive overhaul of the European Union's 15-year-old diplomatic service, according to a June 11 report by the Financial Times. • The proposed reforms aim to strengthen the bloc's ability to respond effectively to escalating geopolitical crises and global instability.

• France and Germany are considering a significant overhaul of the EU’s 15-year-old diplomatic service to enhance the bloc's ability to respond to geopolitical crises. • Proposed changes, reported by the Financial Times, may include stripping specific powers from the existing diplomatic structure to streamline operations.

• Europe is experiencing a policy paradox where national economies urgently require more workers, yet governments are simultaneously tightening migration restrictions. • The EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact is set to take effect on 12 June, introducing the bloc’s most stringent migration policies in several decades.

• EU household energy consumption fell to 9.54 million terajoules in 2024, marking a 0.2% decrease from 2023 and the third consecutive year of decline since a 2021 peak of 10.98 million terajoules. • The residential sector accounted for 26.0% of the EU's total final energy consumption in 2024.

• A government-commissioned study has identified significant health risks associated with alcohol consumption. • In a separate development, reports indicate that $60 million and the coordination of seven federal agencies were required to stage a UFC fight for Donald Trump at the White House.

• Only Italy, Lithuania, and Slovakia met the June 7th deadline to implement new EU pay transparency rules into national legislation. • The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) reports that nearly half of EU nations, including Germany, Spain, and Ireland, have yet to publish draft laws.